OPEN UP.

CHAPTER 54.

Adora’s pov.

“Why did you stop?” I whispered in Derek’s ear as I soothed his well-groomed silky hair with my fingers, “hmm?” he hummed in question as his head bobbed up and down gently, probably from enjoying the massage too much.

“Why did you stop hating me Derek?” I asked again, in a smaller voice, hoping he wouldn’t act out or deny me an answer, “I got tired.” He murmured softly, letting out a small sigh, “I was so focused on hating you that I had almost forgotten about my purpose as the king of werewolves and as my own man, it was physically and emotionally draining and in the process I started to hate myself too.”

He continued as he raised his head to look at me with a small smile on his lips, “I harbored so much hate in my guts that I’d almost forgotten what living was like, and I knew I had to stop, to breathe like you said, to let go and finally move on, and I did after a long while, or at least I thought I did.”